Japan

What can travelers expect in Japan?

Tokyo shows off high-rise districts like Shibuya and Shinjuku alongside temples such as Senso-ji, Kyoto concentrates a large share of Japan's UNESCO heritage into a compact area with its 17 monuments and gardens, and Osaka is known for street food, nightlife along the Dotonbori canal, and its castle from the Toyotomi era.

This page summarizes regions, the best time to visit, entry requirements (as of September 2026), health matters, and the travel advisories of the relevant foreign ministries.

Sources: Auswärtiges Amt · Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)

What is Japan like as a travel destination?

Outside major train stations and hotels, English is limited; signage at stations and sights is usually bilingual, though, and translation apps bridge the rest well. Courtesy customs such as bowing, removing shoes in traditional accommodation, and quiet behavior on trains shape everyday life.

The three cities differ markedly: Tokyo is one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world, with more than a dozen districts that each feel like their own city; Kyoto was the imperial capital until 1868 and presents itself more traditionally through temples, shrines and the Gion geisha district; Osaka is generally seen as more relaxed, louder, and more focused on food and nightlife.

Natural events such as earthquakes are part of everyday life: Japan registers around 1,500 perceptible earthquakes a year on average, most of them minor. Buildings and rail systems are consistently designed to be earthquake-resistant.

Which cities are worth visiting on a Japan tour?

Tokyo

Tokyo sits at roughly 41 m above sea level on Tokyo Bay and, with well over 30 million residents in its metropolitan area, is one of the largest cities in the world. Shibuya, with its busy pedestrian crossing, and Shinjuku, with its skyscrapers and the world's busiest train station, represent modern Tokyo.

In the Asakusa district, the red Kaminarimon gate leads to the Buddhist Senso-ji temple, the city's oldest, surrounded by the Nakamise shopping street with traditional crafts and sweets. The Meiji Shrine near Harajuku sits within a dense forest in the middle of the city and forms a peaceful counterpoint to the shopping streets of Harajuku and Omotesando.

Kyoto

Kyoto sits at roughly 49 m above sea level in the Kyoto basin and was Japan's imperial capital from 794 to 1868. The golden Kinkaku-ji pavilion and the Fushimi Inari shrine, with thousands of vermilion torii gates climbing the hillside, are among the most photographed places in Japan; Fushimi Inari is accessible around the clock and free of charge.

The Arashiyama bamboo grove on the western edge of the city, the Gion geisha district with its wooden houses, and the rock garden of Ryoan-ji round out historic Kyoto; 17 monuments and gardens in the city and the neighboring towns of Uji and Otsu have together formed a single UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994.

About 40 train minutes to the south lies Nara with its deer park: more than 1,200 semi-tame sika deer roam freely there between Todai-ji temple, home to a large bronze Buddha statue, and Kasuga Shrine, a popular day trip from Kyoto or Osaka.

Osaka

Osaka sits at roughly 10 m above sea level on Osaka Bay and is considered Japan's culinary capital. Osaka Castle, built in 1583 by the warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi, was rebuilt after several periods of destruction, most recently in 1931 and again from 1995 to 1997, and today stands in a large park surrounded by a moat.

The Dotonbori canal, with its huge neon signs including the famous running Glico Man, is the center of nightlife and street-food culture, with takoyaki and okonomiyaki; the Kuromon Ichiba market hall offers fresh fish and small food stalls by day. Universal Studios Japan in the harbor district, open since 2001, is one of the country's most-visited theme parks.

Sources: UNESCO World Heritage Centre · Wikipedia · japan-guide.com · Osaka Tourism Guide · JRailPass

When is the best time to visit Japan?

Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka through the year

Average daily highs and lows, and monthly rainfall. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station ICHIGAYA (3 km, 31 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station KYOTO (3 km, 47 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station OSAKA (2 km, 83 m), auf 10 m umgerechnet. Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020.

In summer, Kyoto and Osaka feel noticeably muggier and hotter than Tokyo, with highs sometimes exceeding 34°C, because the Kyoto basin traps the heat; Tokyo benefits somewhat from its coastal location. In all three cities most rain falls between June and October, with a second peak in September from the tail ends of typhoons.

Winter (December to February) is dry and cool to cold in all three cities, with lows in Tokyo and Kyoto often hovering just above or below freezing; snow is rare in the cities themselves but does occur.

Sources: BluePlanet / selfguidejapan.com

What do you need to enter Japan?

• Many Western nationalities (e.g. Switzerland, Germany, Austria): visa-free for up to 90 days for tourist stays; the passport must be valid for the entire planned length of stay.
• Visit Japan Web: optional online pre-registration for immigration, customs and tax exemption; speeds up processing at the airport but is not a requirement for entry.
• Purpose of travel: tourist activities are permitted; paid work, extended study, or establishing residence are not compatible with visa-free status.
• Other nationalities: different limits of 15, 30 or 180 days, or a visa requirement, apply to some other nationalities; the current list from Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs is authoritative, and Japanese embassies and consulates provide guidance.

An electronic JAPAN eVISA system run by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has for some years supplemented the regular visa process for nationals who require a visa; for tourist stays of up to 90 days for visa-exempt nationalities, it is not needed.

Sources: Auswärtiges Amt · Bundesministerium für europäische und internationale Angelegenheiten (BMEIA) · Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)

What vaccinations and health precautions does Japan require?

In 2025, healthytravel.ch pointed to a marked rise in pertussis (whooping cough) cases in Japan, including several infant deaths; a booster of the pertussis vaccine is therefore a sensible topic to raise during travel health consultations, regardless of age.

According to the CDC, malaria does not occur in Japan. Medical care in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka is of a high standard, though English is not guaranteed at clinics outside major international hospitals; travel insurance covering treatment costs is advisable.

Sources: healthytravel.ch, Swiss Expert Committee for Travel Medicine · Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

How safe is Japan for travelers?

The greater risk comes from natural events: Japan is one of the most seismically active countries on earth, with around 1,500 recorded earthquakes a year; southern and western Japan are regularly hit by typhoons in late summer, and 47 of the country's 110 officially active volcanoes are permanently monitored.

Hotels and authorities offer free warning apps for earthquakes, typhoons and tsunamis; registering your trip with your own embassy makes it easier to be reached in an emergency.

Sources: Auswärtiges Amt · Eidgenössisches Departement für auswärtige Angelegenheiten EDA

How do you get to Japan and travel around the country?

Tokyo has year-round nonstop connections into Narita from several European hubs, including Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Helsinki, Madrid and Warsaw, operated among others by Japan Airlines, KLM, Finnair, Iberia and LOT; into Haneda, ANA, Lufthansa and Japan Airlines add connections including to Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna, London and Paris. Finnair flies nonstop to Osaka Kansai several times a week from Helsinki; most other European cities reach Kansai via a connection through Tokyo, the Middle East or other Asian hubs.

Within Japan, the entire Golden Route can be covered by Shinkansen; a multi-day Japan Rail Pass can be worthwhile if several legs are involved. Within the cities themselves, subway, tram and bus networks handle local transport, payable with an IC chip card such as Suica, Pasmo or Icoca, which works uniformly nationwide.

Sources: JRailPass · GO TOKYO, Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau · FlightConnections · FlightConnections

What money do you need in Japan and how do you pay?

For trains, buses and small purchases, an IC chip card such as Suica, Pasmo or Icoca is worthwhile; it is bought and topped up at station vending machines and works uniformly nationwide, regardless of which region it was purchased in. A special tourist version is available at airports such as Narita and Haneda.

ATMs at 7-Eleven convenience stores and post offices reliably accept international cards, while other bank ATMs often do not; carrying small amounts of cash for temples, vending machines and more rural excursions such as Nara is still sensible.

Tipping is uncommon in Japan and is normally neither expected nor accepted in restaurants, taxis or hotels; attempting to tip can cause confusion, since good service is considered a given.

Sources: japan-guide.com

Where is best to stay in Japan?

The range of accommodation spans inexpensive capsule hotels and hostels, functional business hotels, and international five-star properties; rooms are often smaller by European standards.

One or two nights in a traditional ryokan, with tatami rooms, futon beds and often a private onsen bath, are part of the Japan experience for many travelers; they are more common in Kyoto and around Osaka than in expensive central Tokyo.

What do people eat in Japan?

Small family-run restaurants, standing bars and vending-machine restaurants, where you order and pay at a machine before being seated, are part of everyday life in all three cities; a photo of the menu or a translation app helps when no English menu is available.

Convenience stores such as 7-Eleven, Lawson and FamilyMart offer fresh onigiri rice balls, bento boxes and drinks around the clock at affordable prices and are a reliable option on the go.

Vegetarian and vegan options are not yet a given everywhere outside specialized restaurants, since fish stock (dashi) is used in many dishes; temple cuisine in Kyoto is a reliable alternative.

What culture and festivals shape Japan?

Shoes are removed when entering temples, shrines, traditional restaurants and private homes; at shrines, visitors cleanse their hands and mouth at a water basin before entering. Talking loudly on the phone on trains is considered impolite, which is why most passengers keep their phones on silent.

Bowing largely replaces the handshake, and the depth of the bow depends on the occasion; a brief nod usually suffices in everyday tourist interactions. Business cards are presented and received with both hands and briefly examined before being put away.

Tattoos remain unwelcome at many public onsen baths and swimming pools, or must be covered with waterproof patches, even though some tourist-friendly establishments make exceptions; it is worth asking ahead of a visit.

What experiences are worth having in Japan?

Kyoto

The climb through the thousands of torii gates of Fushimi Inari to the summit takes about two hours and is accessible around the clock free of charge; starting before 8 a.m. avoids the largest crowds. In the Gion geisha district, geiko and maiko can occasionally be spotted in the evening on their way to appointments; photography in the narrow lanes is now restricted in many places.

Tokyo

An evening walk through Shinjuku's narrow alleys such as Omoide Yokocho reveals a different side of the city than its skyscrapers; during the day, a visit to the Meiji Shrine combined with a stroll through Harajuku and Omotesando blends tradition with the modern fashion scene.

Osaka and Nara

Climbing to the top of Osaka Castle's eight-story main tower offers a view over the city and a museum on the history of its builder, Toyotomi Hideyoshi. A day trip to Nara combines free-roaming sika deer in the park with Todai-ji temple, home to the largest bronze Buddha statue in Japan.

Sources: japan-guide.com · Osaka Tourism Guide · JRailPass

How can you travel responsibly in Japan?

• Avoid the signposted private lanes in Gion and do not photograph geiko or maiko without asking; some lanes are now off-limits to tourists.
• Visit Fushimi Inari and Arashiyama before 8 a.m. or after 5 p.m. to avoid the main crowds.
• Take waste separation seriously: public trash cans are rare, and packaging is often carried back to your accommodation.
• Use IC cards and the Shinkansen rather than a rental car where possible; the rail network covers the entire Golden Route.

Sources: japan-guide.com

Which countries pair well with Japan?

Several daily nonstop flights of roughly 2 to 3.5 hours connect Tokyo and Osaka to Seoul and Taipei, while similarly frequent flights of just over 3 hours serve Beijing or Shanghai.

Travelers wanting to combine the Golden Route with an island destination are better off waiting for the dedicated future pages on Hokkaido in the north and Okinawa in the south, rather than squeezing those regions into a short trip to Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka.

Who is Japan a good fit for, and who might it suit less?

Families benefit from the high level of safety, clean public spaces and short train journeys between legs; strollers, however, depend on elevators rather than escalators at many older stations.

Travelers who prefer to avoid nightlife and loud entertainment will find quieter alternatives in Kyoto compared with Osaka's Dotonbori. Travelers with strict dietary restrictions should expect some extra communication effort, since fish stock is present in many seemingly vegetarian dishes.

Worth combining

• China
• South Korea
• Taiwan
• Thailand